ABSTRACT: The comparative osteology of hairtail fishes of Demissolinea novaeguineensis Burhanuddin &\ud
Iwatsuki, 2003 and Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 of the family Trichiuridae, which lack a forked caudal fin\ud
type, were studied. The characters of osteology, that are neurocranium, supraoccipital, orbital region, anal fin and\ud
vertebral column of two genera were analyzed and compared. The results revealed that the characters of osteology\ud
are valuable tools to identify the two genera under investigation and could be considered as good taxonomic criteria\ud
to differentiate the hairtail fishes without a forked caudal fin. An osteological key to genera is provided

Iqbal Burhanuddin, Andi

Hasanuddin University Repository

 
Received: 19th May-2013           Revised: 30th May-2013             Accepted: 05th June-2013 
Research article 
 
THE COMPARATIVE OSTEOLOGY OF DEMISSOLINEA NOVAEGUINEENSIS 
BURHANUDDIN AND IWATSUKI, 2003 AND TRICHIURUS LEPTURUS LINNAEUS, 1758 
(PERCIFOMES: TRICHIURIDAE) 
 
Andi Iqbal Burhanuddin  
 
Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia 
Jl. P. Kemerdekaan Km. 10. Kampus Unhas Tamalanrea, Makassar, Indonesia. 90245 
Telephone and Fax: 62+411-587000; E-mail: iqbalburhanuddin@yahoo.com 
ABSTRACT: The comparative osteology of hairtail fishes of Demissolinea novaeguineensis Burhanuddin & 
Iwatsuki, 2003 and Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 of the family Trichiuridae, which lack a forked caudal fin 
type, were studied. The characters of osteology, that are neurocranium, supraoccipital, orbital region, anal fin and 
vertebral column of two genera were analyzed and compared. The results revealed that the characters of osteology 
are valuable tools to identify the two genera under investigation and could be considered as good taxonomic criteria 
to differentiate the hairtail fishes without a forked caudal fin. An osteological key to genera is provided. 
Key words: Trichiuridae, comparative osteology, hairtail fishes 
 
INTRODUCTION 
The trichiurid, commonly known as hairtail fishes or ribbonfishes, are benthopelagic predators inhabiting the 
continental shelf and slope worldwide. Their habitats in tropical and temperate regions range from estuaries to open 
water 1500 m in depth [7]. Adults are generally identified by their extremely elongated, laterally compressed bodies 
and fang-like teeth on premaxillary symphysis [5]. Although not as important commercially as their tuna and 
billfish relatives, some species of hairtail fishes constitute valuable fisheries in several areas of the world, such as 
the East China Sea, the North Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean [1, 2]. 
The hairtail fishes lack a forked caudal fin, caudal peduncle tapers into a hairlike process of the family Trichiuridae 
comprises four genera: Eupleurogrammus, Lepturacanthus, Tentoriceps and Trichiurus [7].  On the other hand, a 
new genus from New Guinea, Demissolinea was recognized by [2]. Accordingly, the family Trichiuridae lacks a 
forked caudal fin increases the total number of genera to five. 
Eupleurogrammus and Tentoriceps are clearly distinguishable from Lepturacanthus, Trichiurus and Demissolinea 
by having small pelvic fins that are “reduced to scale-like processes” [2].  Demissolinea novaeguineensis and 
Trichiurus lepturus have been confused taxonomically because of their similar overall body appearance and 
coloration, resulting in their being considered as “one variable species” by many researchers. Accordingly, D. 
novaeguineensis Burhanuddin and Iwatsuki, 2003 is herein described as different species distincted from T. lepturus 
Linnaeus, 1758.    
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
The vertebral column, anal fin and neurocranium term followed [5, 1], and [2]. An analysis of the osteology of 
neurocranium, anal fin and vertebral of caudal peduncle was confirmed using a close-up monitoring system 
[magnified 30 times; Softex Co., Ltd., Tokyo (model No: CMBW-2)]. 
Material examined 
The five genera of family Trichiuridae lack a forked caudal fin examined are listed below.  The range of total 
lengths in mm, sample sizes and locality are shown in parentheses: Demissolinea novaeguineensis (450-475 mm, 2 
specimens, New Guinea). Trichiurus lepturus (265-1300 mm, 10 specimens, South Carolina, Florida, Atlantic 
Ocean, U.S.A., Eilot, Red Sea and Venezuela).  Eupleurogrammus muticus (252-395 mm, 10 specimens, Qingdao, 
East China Sea), Lepturacanthus savala (311-483 mm, 12 specimens, Qingdao, East China Sea and Chennai, India.  
Tentoriceps cristatus: (495- 640mm, 6 specimens, Okinawa, Japan), T. gangeticus FAKU S. 1626, 480 mm TL, 
Mandapan, India; FAKU S. 1874–1875, 300–325 mm TL, Singapore; ZSI F4811/2 (holotype of T. gangeticus), 444 
mm TL, West Bengal, India.  
 
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Andi Iqbal Burhanuddin                  Copyrights@2013     IJPAES       ISSN 2231-4490 
 
T. lajor RMNH 6030 (holotype), 226 mm TL, Manado, Indonesia.T. lepturus japonicus: FRLM 19821, 389 mm TL, 
Nagasaki, Japan; MUFS 18241, 18245, 2 specimens, 970–1040 mm TL, TsushimaIs., Nagasaki, Japan; RMNH D 
2040 (holotype), 945 mm TL, Shimabara, Nagasaki, Japan .T. lepturus ANSP 142228, 500 mm TL, South Carolina, 
U.S.A.; CAS 154017, 3 specimens, 360–396 mm TL, Sao Paulo, Brazil; CAS 19317, 990 mm TL, Florida, U.S.A.; 
CAS 19318, 600 mm TL, South Carolina, U.S.A.; CAS 20478, 3 specimens, 475–520 mm TL, Panama, Eastern 
Pacific; CAS 138686, 4 specimens, 462–501 mm TL, Texas, U.S.A.; CAS 138687, 2 specimens, 305– 375 mm TL, 
Texas, U.S.A.; CAS 54805, 5 specimens, 401–440 mm TL, Peru; FAKU S. 1190, Atlantic Ocean, U.S.A.; HUJ 
4950, 2 specimens, 415–432 mm TL, Eilat, Red Sea; HUJ 11285, 1300 mm TL, Eilat, Red Sea; MUFS 18430, 770 
mm TL, Mangalore, Karnataka, India; MUFS 39043, 982 mm TL, Calcutta, India; MUFS 19096, 810 mm TL, 
Chennai, India; USMN 188290, 513 mm TL, Florida, U.S.A.; USNM 222892, 265 mm TL, Mouth of Rio, 
Venezuela; USNM 272932, 3 specimens, 305–520 mm TL, Florida, U.S.A.; USNM 300462, 700 mm TL, 
Caribbean Sea, Belize, U.S.A .T. malabaricus : BMNH 1867.5.30.2 (syntype), 352 mm TL, Cochin, India. T. 
margarites: IOCAS 83-1174 (holotype), 792 mm TL, Sanya, South China Sea. 
 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Diagnostic Features of the Genera:  
Body remarkably elongated and compressed, caudal fin absent, body tapering to a hair-like tail; A single naris on 
each snout; mouth large, with an nonprotrusible upper jaw; lower jaw extending beyond the tip of the upper jaw and 
bearing a pair of small anterior fangs; a single lateral line; lateral line descending steeply from the head and 
reaching close to the ventral and parallel with ventral contour of body to end of caudal peduncle; single dorsal fin 
extending about 90% of total body length; posterior and ventral margins of the opercle, subopercle, and interopercle 
are strongly splintered or fimbriated; a longer pterotic with the posterior tip terminating beyond the posterior margin 
of neurocranium; a coracoid with a well-developed plate bearing a convex ventral margin that extend beyond the 
posterior margin of the fourth actinost [8, 7, 5, 2, 4].  
The structure osteology of Eupleurogrammus and Tentoriceps are not further compare in this study because both 
clearly distinguishable from Demissolinea and Trichiurus by having the small pelvic fins reduced to scale-like 
proses.  
 
Neurocranium 
Very elongated, narrow shaped of the skull reflects the highly carnivorous nature of these fishes. In dorsal view, the 
neurocranium of the trichiurids is triangular, being narrow anteriorly and wider posteriorly (Fig.1). The 
neurocranium in the Trichiurus lepturus and Demissolinea novaeguineensis is long and narrow, broadest at the 
posterior end. The dorsal surface is flat in T. lepturus while it is concave in D. novaeguineensis. The orbits are large 
in T. lepturus about 1/3 length of neurocranium while they are small in D. novaeguineensis measuring less than 1/3 
of the neurocranium 
 
 
Fig. 1. Lateral and dorsal views (top and bottom, respectively) of the neurocranium of the family trichiuridae 
(Trichiurus lepturus). 
 
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Andi Iqbal Burhanuddin                  Copyrights@2013     IJPAES       ISSN 2231-4490 
 
Supraoccipital  
The supraoccipital is a median bone forming the posterodorsal corner of the neurocranium.  It is convex above, 
broadest in the middle and narrower at either ends (Fig. 2). The posterior end of supraoccipital is blunt in D. 
novaeguineensis but sharp point in T. lepturus. [7] Reported that some specimens of T. lepturus from waters around 
India show extreme ossification of supraoccipital bone. 
The paired frontals from the largest portion, approximately 2/3 of the dorsal roof of the skull. Anteriorly, the frontal 
attaches to the nasal, ethmoid, and lateral ethmoid. Posteriorly, it articulates with the pterosphenoid, sphenotic, 
parietal, and supraoccipital. Medially, the frontals are joined to each other. The posterior confluence of the frontals 
is elevated in T. lepturus to a low crest which is least developed in D. novaeguineensis. The parasphenoid is more or 
less similar shape in D. novaeguineensis and T. lepturus species.  
 
 
Fig. 2. Morphology of first anal fin spine elements. A, Demissolinea novaeguineensis (RMNH 24619, 475 mm 
TL) and B, Trichiurus lepturus (ANSP 142228, 500 mm TL). 
 
Anal fin  
The anal fin commences slightly behind the vent and runs midventrally towards the tip of the tail.  The first anal 
spine in T. lepturus is spinous in appearance but triangular in cross section, length less than half of dermal eye 
opening and the base situated below 42nd to 44th dorsal-fin ray base. This spine is much longer in D. 
novaeguineensis than in T. lepturus and the first anal fin spine base situated below 37th to 41st dorsal-fin ray base.   
In D. novaeguineensis, the first anal spine long and dagger-shaped, while in T. lepturus, enlarged and short [2]. The 
anal-soft rays of Demissolinea and T. lepturus are reduced to spinule-like processes that are not branched or 
segmented. These spinules are triangular shaped in cross section and resembles the morphology of the first anal 
spine. 
Vertebral column 
All the trichiurids with a well-developed caudal skeleton bear an ultimate centrum that has undergone flexion and 
forms a urostyle. The vertebral column of the hairtail fishes exhibits a remarkable simplicity when compared to 
many scombroid fishes. The vertebrae are more or less short in the anterior region and progressively long 
posteriorly to tip of the caudal peduncle. T. lepturus, in which the tail is more filamentous and hair-like, when 
compared to D. novaeguineensis (Fig. 3 A and B).    
The neural of D. novaeguineensis and T. lepturus are shorter and smaller than hemal, slender terminating in sharp 
points, hemal canals are big in the anterior caudal vertebrae, decreasing in size towards the caudal peduncle end.  
The ribs are very fragile and thin, lining the abdominal cavity or extending the full distance of trunk. 
In D. novaeguineensis, caudal peduncle vertebrae short and bearing neural spine (except ultimate), the last four 
penultimate centra bearing one long and two short neural spine on the middle of dorsal zygapophyses while they are 
absent in T. lepturus (Fig. 3 A and B). 
 
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Andi Iqbal Burhanuddin                  Copyrights@2013     IJPAES       ISSN 2231-4490 
 
 
Fig. 3. Vertebrae supporting dorsal fin rays and posterior portion of caudal peduncle. A, A’ Demissolinea 
novaeguineensis (RMNH 24619, 475 mm TL) and B, B’ Trichiurus lepturus (ANSP 142228, 500 mm TL).  
NSP, articulating of neural spine; LDFR, last dorsal fin ray; HSP, articulating of hemal spine; AFS, anal fin 
spine; UNS, ultimate neural spine vertebrae; UV, ultimate vertebrae; UHS, ultimate hemal spine vertebrae; 
RNS, reduced neural spine. 
 
Osteological key to genera: 
1A. The dorsal surface of neurocranium concave; orbit small, less than 1/3 of the neurocranium; posterior end of 
supraoccipital is somewhat blunt; first anal spine long and dagger-shaped; caudal peduncle vertebrae short and 
bearing neural spine (except ultimate), the last four penultimate centra remarkably bearing one long and two 
short neural spine on the middle of dorsal zygapophyses…………………… Demissolinea. 
 
 1B.The dorsal surface of neurocranium flat; orbit large, 1/3 or more of the neurocranium; posterior end of 
supraoccipital is sharp point; first anal spine enlarged, short, length less than half of dermal eye opening; 
neural spine on caudal peduncle vertebrae absent……………….…Trichiurus. 
 
CONCLUSION 
The comparative study of the osteology of two hairtail fishes, Demissolinea novaeguineensis and Trichiurus 
lepturus is described.  The structure of neurocranium, supraoccipital, orbital region, anal fin and vertebral column 
are comparable and it could be considered as taxonomic criteria are considered to be important distinguishing 
features between the species.  
 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
We are grateful to Y. Iwatsuki (Miyazaki University) for providing laboratory to conduct radiograph analysis and 
for useful guidance and discussion. I thank to the following persons and institutions for specimen loans: C. Li 
(Institute Oceanology Chinese Academy of Science, China); M. J. P. van Oijen and J. van Egmond (Rijksmuseum 
van Nutuurlijke Historie, Leiden); T. Yoshino (University of Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan); M. Sabaj and D. Dagit 
(Academy of Natural Science 19th and the Parkway Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).  
 
REFERENCES 
 
[1] Burhanuddin A I, Iwatsuki Y, Yoshino T and Kimura S.  2002.  Small and valid species of Trichiurus brevis 
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(Perciformes; Trichiuridae).  Ichthyol. Res. 49:211-223. 
[2] Burhanuddin I and Iwatsuki Y.  2003. Demissolinea novaeguineensis gen. et sp. Nov. (Perciformes: 
Trichiuridae), a new hairtail from New Guinea. Ichthyol. Res. 50: 23-29. 
[3] Burhanuddin AI. 2003. Review of the family Trichiuridae without a forked caudal fin (Perciformes). Ph. D 
dissertation, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima Univ., Kagoshima, Japan. 
[4] Burhanuddin AI and Parin NV.  2008.  Redescription of the Trichiurid Fish, Trichiurus nitens Garman, 1899, 
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Ichthyology, Vol. 48, No. 10, pp. 825–830. 
 
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Available online at www.ijpaes.com 
 
 
 
 
Andi Iqbal Burhanuddin                  Copyrights@2013     IJPAES       ISSN 2231-4490 
 
[5] Gago F J. 1998.  Osteology and phylogeny of the cutlassfishes (Scombroidei: Trichiuridae). Contributions in 
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[7] Nakamura I and Parin N V. 1993. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 15. Snake mackerels and cutlassfishes of the 
world (families Gempylidae and Trichiuridae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the snake mackerels, 
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known to date. FAO, Rome Fish Synop (125) 15:1-136. 
[8] Tucker D W. 1956. Studies on the trichiurid fishes-3. A preliminary revision of the family Trichiuridae.  Bull. 
Brit. Mus. NH Zool 4:73-130. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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THE COMPARATIVE OSTEOLOGY OF DEMISSOLINEA NOVAEGUINEENSIS BURHANUDDIN AND IWATSUKI, 2003 AND TRICHIURUS LEPTURUS LINNAEUS, 1758 (PERCIFOMES: TRICHIURIDAE)

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THE COMPARATIVE OSTEOLOGY OF DEMISSOLINEA NOVAEGUINEENSIS BURHANUDDIN AND IWATSUKI, 2003 AND TRICHIURUS LEPTURUS LINNAEUS, 1758 (PERCIFOMES: TRICHIURIDAE)

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